Monday, July 2, 2007

OK, let’s clear up a bit of culinary confusion. In the produce department of your local grocery store, they sell both sweet potatoes and yams. The fact is they are all actually sweet potatoes. Some varieties of sweet potatoes, like Beauregard and Garnet, are often marketed as “yams.” So, in the clip when I say that you can use sweet potatoes or yams, what I’m really saying is you can use any variety of sweet potato available for this recipe. True yams are native to Africa and Asia and are rarely, if ever, seen in our markets.

This simple roasted sweet potato video recipe is a perfect side dish to all those great, grilled classics you’ll be cooking up this summer. I’m sure you already know how much better for you the good old sweet potato is than the regular russet. Not only are they much higher in fiber, complex carbohydrates, protein and vitamins, but they also taste good. It’s a win win. I hope you’ve got your silicon baking mat ready, as it makes this recipe a snap as you’ll see in the video. Of course, you can really spice these up with a bit more Chipotle than I used, but the tablespoon I put in gives it just the right kick, plus that wonderful, slightly smoky flavor. By the way, the lime Chipotle mixture we create to start the dish is actually an example of a Citronette, which we explored in another recipe clip. If you haven’t seen that one, I’ve linked it in so you can check it out. Enjoy!

Ingredients:3 sweet potatoes1 large juicy lime1 tbl Chipotle chili powder1 1/2 tsp salt1 1/2 tsp olive oil*Note: we baked for 30 min at 375F, then tossed in the remaining lime mixture, and then finished at 450F for another 10-15 minutes until tender and nicely glazed.

Thanks for pointing out the difference between the two. Yams and sweet potatoes aren't even related; sweet potatoes are part of the Morning Glory family. In fact, sweet potatoes were domesticated in the New World, which is yet another reason to include them in your Thanksgiving feast along with turkey, corn, beans, and squash. How you deal with dogs (being another New World domesticate)is another matter, and I'm not too interested in a recipe.

I know it's a small thing but this has irritated me for years now. Our groceries stores in Canada used to call them sweet potatoes. Then Walmart came along and started calling everything 'yams'. And now I hear friends and colleagues calling them yams too. *sigh*